The Business Bytes
Mumbai, July 25, 2024 (TBB Bureau): Hindustan Zinc Limited, India’s largest and the world’s second-largest integrated zinc producer, on Thursday unveiled EcoZen, its groundbreaking low-carbon ‘green’ zinc brand. As the world’s most sustainable metals and mining company according to the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA), Hindustan Zinc has launched Asia’s first low-carbon zinc offering, providing a sustainable alternative to its customers worldwide.
EcoZen is certified as low-carbon zinc by a leading global sustainability consulting firm through a comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA), boasting a carbon footprint of less than one tonne of carbon equivalent per tonne of zinc produced. Manufactured using renewable energy, EcoZen’s carbon footprint is approximately 75% lower than the global average.
Zinc is primarily used to galvanize steel, protecting it from corrosion and making it a critical mineral for modern infrastructure. Its applications span across sectors like steel, infrastructure, automotive, and emerging industries such as renewable energy, electronics, high-tech manufacturing, energy storage, defense, and electric mobility. EcoZen exemplifies Hindustan Zinc’s commitment to decarbonizing its operations while offering customers a significant competitive advantage to provide more sustainable options. This innovative product will lead to a total carbon emission avoidance of about 400 kilograms across their value chain when galvanizing one tonne of steel with EcoZen.
The EcoZen brand signifies the pinnacle of eco-consciousness and peace of mind, offering a top-quality, sustainable low-carbon product that stands the test of time. With one of the lowest global warming potential (GWP) values on the market—about 75% lower than the global average—EcoZen is certified using a mass-balance approach through the cradle-to-gate method.
Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Chairperson of Hindustan Zinc and Non-Executive Director of Vedanta Group, stated, “Sustainability continues to be at the core of all our business decisions. Hindustan Zinc being ranked #1 in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment is a testament to our commitment to building a sustainable future. The launch of EcoZen marks another leap in our journey towards becoming Net Zero by 2050. By setting global benchmarks in ESG, Vedanta’s Hindustan Zinc is revolutionizing the natural resources industry by creating safer, smarter, and more sustainable operations and products.”
Speaking on the occasion of the product launch, Hindustan Zinc Limited CEO Arun Misra said, “The introduction of EcoZen is a historic milestone in our quest to decarbonize our operations and serve environmentally conscious customers who care about the origin of their raw materials and aim to decarbonize their supply chain. This aligns with our net-zero goals and represents one of the most sustainable low-carbon zinc options available for protecting infrastructure and supporting technologies for the low-carbon transition.”
Hindustan Zinc is committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 50% by 2030, in line with its Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) goals. The company is increasing the proportion of renewable energy in its power mix and enhancing operational efficiency to lower its carbon footprint. Recently, Hindustan Zinc began receiving the first flow of round-the-clock renewable energy as part of its 450 MW power delivery agreement, supplementing its existing 40.7 MW of captive solar power. These initiatives have helped reduce the company’s greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 14% in FY24 compared to 2020.
Hindustan Zinc offers one of the most extensive zinc product portfolios globally, focusing on a ‘customer-first’ approach to product innovation. Supplying to over 40 countries across Europe, South America, Oceania, and the Middle East, the company’s Customer Technical Services team and Centre of Excellence work closely with customers to meet their specific needs. Committed to delivering top-quality products, Hindustan Zinc’s offerings are the first in the country to receive Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) verification, providing detailed data on the product’s environmental footprint, along with ISO and BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) certifications for quality. Additionally, the company has REACH certification for exporting its products to Europe.
A Vedanta Group company, Hindustan Zinc Limited is the world’s second-largest zinc producer and the third-largest silver producer globally, with a market share of about 75% of the primary zinc market in India. As a certified 2.41 times Water-Positive company, Hindustan Zinc is committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050 or sooner. As a world leader in the metals and mining industry, Hindustan Zinc plays a pivotal role in providing critical metals essential for the global energy transition towards a sustainable future.
